Let Them Eat Junk

In January, a congressional briefing opened with a nod to the Alcoholics Anonymous model: “We’re the richest country in the world, and we have a hunger problem,” admitted Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA). And poor nutrition often accompanies this hunger, as low-income families adopt eating strategies that fill rather than nourish. Americans below the poverty line consume fewer fruits and vegetables, and more low-quality, processed foods, than people in higher income brackets. Low-income Americans are at the bottom of our nation’s food chain: They’re hungry, and they’re struggling to avoid eating rubbish.